The Effects of Chronic Administration of Sodium Hydrosulfide on Spatial Learning and Memory in Streptoztocin Rat Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible and gradual progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by abnormal protein accumulation, synaptic dysfunction, and cognitive impairment. Hydrogen sulfide, a novel neuromodulator, has neuroprotective effects and regulates learning and memory. It has be shown that Hydrogen sulfide ameliorates homocysteine-induced impairment in cognitive function. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential neuroprotective effects of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), as an H2S donor, on Spatial Learning and Memory in streptoztocin (STZ) rat model of Alzheimer’s disease

Methods: Animals were divided into: Control, NaHS (2.8 mg/kg per d) and Alzheimer’s rats group include (STZ, STZ + Saline and STZ + NaHS groups) which were the Alzheimer’s rats and received Saline and NaHS (2.8, 5.6 mg/kg per d) for 10 days. For induction of AD, STZ (3 mg/kg, 10 μl/injection site) were administered into lateral ventricles. All rates were trained in the Morris water maze.

Findings: our results show that i.c.v. injection of STZ significantly increased escape latency and Swimming distance to find the hidden platform in comparison with the control group (P<0.05). The amnesic effect of STZ was prevented with NaHS treatment So that The latency time and Swimming distance to find the platform in the STZ+ NaHS group rats were significantly lower than STZ + DMSO groups (P<0.05). Conversely, the percentage of time spent and distance swimming in the target quadrant in the probe test in the STZ+ NaHS group rats were significantly higher than those in the STZ + saline group.

 Conclusion: sodium hydrosulfide, improved, learning and memory in the STZ rat model of AD. The results suggest that treatment with sodium hydrosulfide is useful for treatment of cognitive impairment in AD.